I live in the Pac. Northwest, where do I go for my CRNA degree.

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I am a Nurse in Washington State and I am looking to apply to the newly developed program at Oregon Health and Science University when I finish off my BSN here shortly and tack on a couple of years of ICU work. I am currently an OR nurse and will start in the ICU next month. Anyways, here is my question. In a few years I will be free to roam the U.S. for my educational needs. I would love to go to school locally but with only one infant school I figure my chances are not extremely high of getting in. Where would you go, or where did you go to school, and why? My inlaws live in Florida which is of interest and I have family in New Hampshire which I wouldn't mind either.

Question #2- Do you recommend the shotgun style application process for CRNA school. Meaning, multiple applications to various schools.

All of the accredited schools are listed on the AANA webpage:

AANA.com . There are several in Fl. I'm selecting the ones that I think I have the best match to , not the shotgun approach . Oh yeah, the AANA page also has all of the links. bookmark it it'll help, honestly :D

good luck

I'm an alternate at MHRI, and about to go nuts waiting.:uhoh3:

Specializes in critical care transport.
I am a Nurse in Washington State and I am looking to apply to the newly developed program at Oregon Health and Science University when I finish off my BSN here shortly and tack on a couple of years of ICU work. I am currently an OR nurse and will start in the ICU next month. Anyways, here is my question. In a few years I will be free to roam the U.S. for my educational needs. I would love to go to school locally but with only one infant school I figure my chances are not extremely high of getting in. Where would you go, or where did you go to school, and why? My inlaws live in Florida which is of interest and I have family in New Hampshire which I wouldn't mind either.

Question #2- Do you recommend the shotgun style application process for CRNA school. Meaning, multiple applications to various schools.

Gonzaga, by Spokane, has a program.

I also live in Washington also so I understand the dilemma; we now have two in the NW with the new program at OHSU and then Gonzaga in Spokane, whoo hoo :) I didn't want to be limited so I myself have just done a lot of research of schools in states that I would be wiling to live in (Cost of living, weather, city vs. rural, family or friends in state). When doing this I just tried to figure out the important questions you should know about any program such as clinical experience, travel to clinical site req., front loaded vs. integrated, cost, class size, board passing rates, regional/line experience, needing to share cases w/residents etc... it can be a lot of work doing the research if your willing to go almost anywhere in the nation :uhoh3:

I think if you have family in an area though that would be a big draw--from what I hear all the support you can have the better.

I would only apply to schools that you have done some research on and that fit your needs/what you are looking for so you don't waste your time. Of course the more you apply to though the better your chance--it seems around 3-5 schools is common.

3-4 Schools sounds like a great idea. If I have difficulty getting into the OHSU program I will heavily research the schools in the areas I wouldn't mind living in. Your advice was great.

People forget about us Pacific Northwesterners. Look at the Super Bowl this year; the majority of the U.S. asked "Who are the Seahawks?".

Is anyone looking at applying to the new program at OHSU?

Is anyone looking at applying to the new program at OHSU?

I'm going to give it a shot. It's a steep application fee (over $100) but If I get in, I'll have the advantage of being relatively close to home (cheaper plane tickets back and forth) so It'll more than make up for the fee.

No, seriously, I don't think there's much chance to get in this round because I figure they already have students hand picked from their own area. They are only accepting 10 students this Fall. I mainly want to get an application in so that I will be poised for next year...they will know that I'm serious about their school. If I do get in this year, I'll be dancing the jig.

Good Luck! I think you have a good shot. I don't know your qualifications or anything but I think there will be a limited number of applicants this year. Plus, the school is very expensive. It is about 70,000 for tuition alone for the program. I use to work up at Doernbeckers and the buzz over the program was minimal. I think it will take a couple of years before it becomes real popular. Let me know how it goes. I've still got a couple years before I apply. I am trying to transition into the ICU from the OR. No job as of yet but I'm persistent.

You're not trying to get in the PICU at Doernbecher, right? I was told by the director from the OHSU program that they don't recognize PICU experience as fullfilling the ICU requirement. I've even had both adult and picu (congenital heart program) and they said they wanted me to go to an adult ICU for a year. (You gotta be kidding... was my thought at the time.)

Keep trying to get into the adult ICU!!! You'll get in

The school is very expensive. It is about 70,000 for tuition alone for the program. I use to work up at Doernbeckers and the buzz over the program was minimal. I think it will take a couple of years before it becomes real popular.

Thanks for the encouragement. Can I ask you what Doernbeckers is? And how did you come by the financial info? Anything else you can tell me about the school in general (OHSU)?

Do you live in Portland? How is it to live there? Expensive? I know it's a beautiful city.

Specializes in Surgical/Telemetry.

Doernbechers is a Children's Hospital that is connected to OHSU on hospital hill in Portland. I can corroborate the high cost, as I spoke to someone representing OHSU's graduate programs at a recent health fair. Portland is fairly expensive if you live anywhere near downtown, but costs decrease dramatically if you are willing to commute in from the suburbs :)

I'm originally from Spokane/Cd'A. But I up and moved my family so that I can attend U of Cincinnati. I'm in the program now. But when I started there was only Gonzaga and I knew my chances were greater in the east. So I didn't bother applying to Gonzaga at all. Fortunately OHSU is opening a program. You might want to keep an eye out for Westminster College in Salt Lake City. I know they're looking to start a program. Last I heard, they were searching for a program director.

You might want to keep an eye out for Westminster College in Salt Lake City. I know they're looking to start a program. Last I heard, they were searching for a program director.

If any of you are looking into Westminster, check out their website. You'll have to google it because they are not on the AANA web site yet. They require a year of undergrad physics before you can apply. This requirement is rare for CRNA programs so that will cut down the applicant pool, especially when you consider that most BSN programs require chemistry but not physics.

I don't think the required physics is even "beginning" physics so you may need a prereq. This school is so close to where I live but I don't think I will take a year or so of physics just to be able to throw my hat in the ring.

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